"We are currently investigating it," Director General of National Export Development at the ministry Didi Sumedi said after a social event at the Trade Ministry’s Office here on Thursday.
The ministry will delve into what the Singaporean agency discovered and also inspect the producer from where the pigs originated, he informed.
Based on the applicable regulations, exporters must ensure that the products that they export meet the destination country's criteria and regulations, Sumedi said.
They must also ensure that their products are free from viruses and have not been exposed to viruses and other harmful contaminants.
Before products are shipped abroad, the Agriculture Quarantine Agency must ensure that they meet the regulations. Singapore, as the importer, must also do so.
While Singapore has temporarily stopped importing pigs from Bulan Island, Batam, Sumedi said that his ministry, along with the Agriculture Ministry, will not examine the condition of pigs from other regions.
Instead, the Trade Ministry will coordinate with the Agriculture Ministry to restrict livestock movement from Batam so that the virus does not spread. The virus must not spread widely, he said.
The Singapore Food Agency detected ASF in pig carcasses at a slaughterhouse in Jurong, Singapore.
Pig imports from Bulan Island, Batam, account for around 15 percent of the total pork supply in Singapore, or equivalent to two-thirds of the supply of freshly slaughtered pork in Singapore.
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Translator: Kuntum Khaira R, Fadhli Ruhman
Editor: Sri Haryati
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